Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-06
THE CHIEF.
He Had Better Leave Mayor
Work man Alone.

"OTAnhsAn AhOncs
This thing of fight between the
Mayor and the Chief of Police can
only result in one way, and that will
be most disastrous to Skinner. The
Mayor has been friendly to him, and
has expressed the opinion several
times that Skinner is an honest man,
and would be all right were it not for
a lot of advisors that hang around
him, some of whom occupy positions
on the police force. 1t is the view OF
many that the mighty chief would
have fallen like grain before the
reaper's sickle long ago had it not
been for the support accorded him
by the Mayor. Some people
agree with the Mayor in saying that
Skinner is honest; but the opinion as
to his competency is unanimous. He
is no more fit to be chief of police
than a pointer dog is to hunt coons.
He passed the greater portion of his
life on top of building mailing down
shingles, and viewed things from a
high altitude. He has generally dealt
with honest men, and doesn't know
thief when he sees one coming up the
road, consequently it is impossible for
him to detect criminals himself or so
direct his force as to effect the
capture of any of the rascals
who are now preying upon the long
suffering public of Los Angeles. The
HERALD does not take any interest in
the fight now going on over the Chief
of Police for this reason: While Skin
ner is most woefully and astonish-
ingly incompetent, he is believed to
be honest. If he were deposed, the
Council, being Republican, would
elect Republican in his place. Now,
the reader is asked to exercise his
brains, and think of another honest
Republican to put in SINNERS place.
OF course, there are plenty OF
honest Republicans who keep
very quiet and are not
before the gaze of the public, but
think of Republican who would have
the place that you would like to see
supplant Skinner. There is Doc Dun
lap, for instance. He is competent,
but the fact that he holds office under
a Democrat would cause the Republi-
cans to down him for Chief OF Police.
They would say Dunlap held office
under Democrat, consequently he
could not refuse to appoint Democratic
applicants were he Chief of Police.
There is not man on the present
force outside Of one or two Democrats
with whom the public would be satis-
fed for one day. Therefore, why
don't the Times and Tribune let poor
old Skinner struggle along until his
term of office is out? He wont do any
harm and burglars can ply
their vocation and rest perfectly secure
80 long as the police force has it's pres
ent head. 1t is all nonsense to talk
about him listening to i'll advice. The
man who holds the position OF chief
should be a commander and not one
to take advice from questionable sub
ordinates. The people are becoming
very tired of the way things are
managed in the police department
and it is rumored that petition for q
change will shortly 60 before that au-
gust body, the City Council,
that will be of sufficient strength
to attract some attention. The
only reason that the general pub
lie has let the matter alone thus far is
because it has appeared like cat-and-
dog fight between the Times and Tri-
buae, and few cared to take sides. The
thing is now, however, coming to a
point where the voice Of the people
will demand a hearing. TtsP